Hinged metal web for truss structures and method of making

Abstract

A hinged metal web member for use in forming a truss or joist assembly. In one embodiment, the web member includes a pair of leg members having connector plates at the upper and lower end portions. Each connector plate has a plurality of teeth struck therefrom, with all of the teeth extending from a common side of the web member. The leg members are joined at their upper end portions by a hinge which allows the leg members to be folded together for shipping and storage, then opened to assume a V configuration when forming a truss or joist, A series of such web members may be hingedly connected to provide a web assembly of the required length and configuration. The hinge connection should be sufficiently strong and rigid to allow the web member to be utilized under conditions to be encountered in truss assembly, yet sufficiently pliable that the hinge may be snapped or broken apart to obtain a web member of the desired length.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. A hinged metal web member for interconnecting elongated wooden members which are arranged so as to extend parallel to each other with a spacing therebetween, thus forming a truss or joist assembly capable of bearing substantial loads, said web member having a V-shaped formation in the operative position and being formed from a sheet metal plate, said hinged metal web member comprising: a pair of leg members; means for hingedly connecting said leg members at respective end portions thereof to form the apex of said V-shaped formation, each of said respective end portions including a connector plate; said hingedly connecting means allowing said leg members to be positioned between a close fitting, compact configuration in which the leg members extend generally parallel and a configuration in which the leg members define a V shape; said hingedly connecting means including a tab portion which joins the connector plates at said apex end portions, and a connector link extending between said apex end portions locking said legs in the V-shaped formation, said tab portion and said connector link being formed with said adjacent connector plates as a single piece construction with said connector link including a pair of generally planar end portions connected by a raised center portion which defines a bore when the web is in the compact configuration; a connector plate located at the extremity of each of said legs opposite said apex; each connector plate having struck out therefrom a plurality of teeth, all of said teeth extending from the same side of said hinged metal web member. 
     
     
       2. The hinged metal web of claim 1, further including means located on at least one of the connector plates at the extremities of said legs for connecting said hinged metal web to an adjacent web member. 
     
     
       3. A wooden truss assembly comprising two elongated wooden members spaced apart and a plurality of V-shaped hinged metal web members interconnecting said elongated wooden members, each of said hinged metal web members including: a pair of leg members; means for hingedly connecting said leg members at respective end portions thereof to form the apex of said V-shaped formation, each of said respective end portions including a connector plate; said hingedly connecting means allowing said leg members to be positioned between a close fitting, compact configuration in which the leg members extend generally parallel and a configuration in which the leg members define a V shape; said hingedly connecting means including a tab portion which joins the connector plates at said apex end portions, and a connector link extending between said apex end portions locking said legs in the V-shaped formation, said tab portion and said connector link being formed with said adjacent connector plates as a single piece construction with said connector link including a pair of generally planar end portions connected by a raised center portion which defines a bore when the web is in the compact configuration; a connector plate located at the extremity of each of said legs opposite said apex; each connector plate having struck out therefrom a plurality of teeth, all of said teeth extending from the same side of said hinged metal web member. 
     
     
       4. The wooden truss assembly of claim 3 further including means located on at least one of the connector plates at the extremities of said legs for connecting said hinged metal web to an adjacent web member. 
     
     
       5. A method of constructing a truss assembly which comprises: (a) arranging two elongated wooden members in a spaced apart, generally parallel relationship; and   (b) connecting said wooden members with at least one hinged metal web member, said hinged metal web member including: a pair of leg members; means for hingedly connecting said leg members at respective end portions thereof to form the apex of said V-shaped formation, each of said respective end portions including a connector plate; said hingedly connecting means allowing said leg members to be positioned between a close fitting, compact configuration in which the leg members extend generally parallel and a configuration in which the leg members define a V shape; said hingedly connecting means including a tab portion which joins the connector plates at said apex end portions, and a connector link extending between said apex end portions locking said legs in the V-shaped formation, said tab portion and said connector link being formed with said adjacent connector plates as a single piece construction with said connector link including a pair of generally planar end portions connected by a raised center portion which defines a bore when the web is in the compact configuration; a connector plate located at the extremity of each of said legs opposite said apex; each connector plate having struck out therefrom a plurality of teeth, all of said teeth extending from the same side of said hinged metal web member; said wooden members being connected by forming said hinged metal web member into a V-shaped configuration and embedding the teeth of said connector plates into said wooden members.   
     
     
       6. The method of claim 5, wherein said hinged metal web further includes means located on at least one of the connector plates at the extremities of said legs for connecting said hinged metal web to an adjacent web member.